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Ankita powers past Parija

NEW DELHI: Ankita Bhambri outplayed Parija Maloo 7-5, 6-2 in the quarterfinals of the $10,000 International Tennis Federation (ITF) women’s tennis tournament at the DLTA Complex here on Thursday.

After trading breaks in the first three games, the top-seeded Ankita saved three breakpoints in the fourth game.

She faltered a bit when she failed to serve out the set at 5-2, and in fact, got broken twice in succession.

However, Parija lacked the confidence to drive home the advantage and surrendered the set, not winning a single point in the next two games.

“I was happy to push my level up and play the 11th and 12th games so well, the way I used to do in the past,” said Ankita.

In the second set, Ankita served a lot better and broke Parija in the third and seventh games to win in an hour and 16 minutes.

In the semifinals, Ankita will meet Korean qualifier Soon-Mi Seo, who did not break into a sweat as her Chinese opponent, Duan Ying Ying, the champion last week, retired after going through the motions for one set.

Rashmi Teltumbe promised to put a second Indian name in the semifinals.

But after winning the first set in the tie-break in which she was 2-5 down, the young girl was a step slow and lost her way.

In the heat and humidity, Rashmi matched He Chun Yan of China stroke for stroke, but the latter fought her way through with sheer determination.

Bhambri sisters in final

In the doubles semifinals, the top-seeded Bhambri sisters — Ankita and Sanaa — survived a match point to defeat the third-seeded Bai Xi and Li Ting of China 14-12 in the super tie-break.